New Delhi: Team India’s Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan turned into more than just another chapter of the storied rivalry. Beyond the battle on the field, there was controversy and demand for a boycott, followed by a ‘No Handshake’ stance of the Indian cricket team.
Suresh Raina’s remark has now stirred the debate further. The former Indian cricketer made an explosive claim ahead of the match and said that none of the players were personally in favour of taking the field against Pakistan. The comment, which went unnoticed, has now gone viral after the ‘No Handshake’ controversy.
India defeated Pakistan convincingly by seven wickets, but the move by the Indian team to avoid handshakes and other friendly gestures to pay tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor caught Pakistan’s players by surprise. Yet according to Raina, the players’ discomfort with the game ran much deeper.
Raina’s claim on Indian players’ mindset
Speaking in a chat with Sports Tak, ahead of the match, Raina revealed that, as per his understanding, not a single member of the current squad wanted to play the match. He said the players were effectively left with no choice once the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had agreed to participate in the Asia Cup.
“I know one thing for sure. If you personally ask the players, none of them wants to play the Asia Cup. In a way, they are forced because the BCCI has agreed to it,” Raina said.
The political tensions following the Pahalgam incident had already led to calls for India to boycott the tournament. While fans and families of victims voiced their disapproval, the BCCI and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decided to go ahead, keeping India’s participation intact.
Comparison with the WCL boycott
Raina also drew parallels with the World Championship of Legends (WCL), where senior retired Indian players, including himself, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and the Pathan brothers, had refused to play against Pakistan Champions in protest. He explained that the scenario was different because the WCL was a private competition, not under the purview of the BCCI or ACC.
“In that situation, we had the freedom to decide. All of us seniors agreed not to play Pakistan. But with the Asia Cup, it’s an ACC event, and once BCCI agreed, the players had to follow,” he said.
The former India star reiterated that if current captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates were individually asked for their opinion, they would have declined to play against Pakistan. “Overall, it’s a kind of compulsion because of BCCI’s approval,” Raina insisted.
What next?
With the Pakistan fixture behind them, India will now focus on their upcoming Asia Cup matches. With the possibility of a rematch later in the tournament, India’s momentum on the field will be tested again against the same opposition. The emotional backdrop ensures that the debate over whether this game should have happened will linger for a while longer, and if a rematch happens, all eyes will be on how it plays out.